Blue Mountains serenity on the market

Mr Torok said the fruits of his Mr Lucas’ labour in his garden were immediately evident when you enter the front gate of his magnificent property which is privately positioned behind an unassuming tree-lined boundary.

In a peaceful pocket of Leura, there’s a permanent flowing creek which traverses the property to a hillside bustling with native flora and fauna.

The home on 2.2ha is only a two minute drive to Leura Village.

“I was really fortunate because the previous owners had bought tens of thousands of dollars worth of mature plants from Sorensen’s Nursery at their closing sale which provided a footprint of established exotics throughout the property,” Mr Lucas said, who founded Katoomba-based Acumen Advisers in 1997.

He lived in the little two room shack that was on the land with his young kids and got a feel for the property and was able to design the landscape plus the perfect house for this amazing parcel of land.

“I was blessed with working with brilliant artisans as this house was built and we were able to craft it into a unique home,” he said.

Mr Lucas and his family will remain in the Blue Mountains after the property is auctioned by Ray White Blackheath on Sunday October 15 at the Hydro Majestic, Medlow Bath.

The property comprises three buildings all linked by wide pathways that meander through the gardens along drystone walls.

Mr Torok said the architect designed main residence really had to be seen to be appreciated.

“It is based on a weatherboard cottage including tin roof and internal lining boards but also offer features such as sauna, an outdoor spa and extensive use of beautiful timbers including rosewood architraves & skirtings and a cedar-clad main bedroom and parents retreat,” Mr Torok said.

“The striking entrance foyer of ironstone rock carries the feel from the gatehouse to the home.”

The main bathroom features a two metre boulder that was dug from the property as the footings were being prepared and has been used as a feature in the shower.

Another similar boulder creates the bench in the bathroom.

All the rooms are generously proportioned and the precision of the carpentry work is evident. The entire rear wall of the residence is made of beautiful timber-framed glass doors that open onto a massive entertaining terrace that overlooks the creek and the hillside beyond.

The second building is a fully self-contained granny flat.

Mr Lucas’ 12 year old son Cam said it’s called the “meditation shack” because it is on the creek and it is a “really peaceful place”.

“Our grandma stays in it when she visits.”

It has a gas heater in the lounge, heated tiles in the bathrooms and a wraparound veranda and it’s own private small rear garden.

The third building which cleverly hides the 60,000 litre water tanks is a garage with toilet facilities, a separate storage room and plenty of cupboards.

Mr Lucas’ 14 year old daughter Maddie said that when her dad designed this he wanted it to be able to double as a party room and so he put in “nice doors to the side courtyard and made it overlook the gardens.”

Of course, no mountain home would be complete without a chook house – and Parkland Estate features one made of sandstone boulders and is aptly named ‘Chookingham Palace.”